Changes were made on 6th April 2018, on Gas Checks so a new MOT Style is offered which gives landlords the flexibility to carry out their Landlords Gas Safety check up to two months before the due date but keep the same annual check date.

Most of you will know, the old rule was if a property is supplied with gas, a landlord has the responsibility to ensure the gas appliances are safe and checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer every year with fixed annual expiry dates.

The new amended regulations now mean the renewal date is known as the ‘deadline date’ and as such, if a gas safety record is done no more than 2 months before the 12 months deadline date, it’s treated as though it were done on the deadline date however both dates should be recorded so an audit trail can be shown.

Current Regulation states:-

Determination of date when next safety check is due under regulation 36(3)

36A.- (1) Where a safety check of an appliance or a flue … is or was completed within the period of 2 months ending with the deadline date, that check is to be treated … as having been made on the deadline date.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 are not aimed at reducing or relaxing safety standards, but to allow greater flexibility over when regular checks are carried out. The aim is to avoid last minute checks, not being able to gain access with tenants, or having to shorten the annual cycle check to comply with the law.